Thrifty Advent Calendar

I really love the idea of having something to do every day leading up to Christmas. Target has the cutest wooden advent calendars for $30 each. I planned on getting one this year since my kids really understand Christmas and days now but then I realized that $30 is quite a bit for something like that especially when the whole purpose is just to give my kids that extra excitement. So....I made my own for under $5.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought a cute little plastic bucket with a lid for $2. Then I bought a pack of envelopes($.94) and a pack of Christmas tags for $1.29 to decorate the envelopes. I wrote each day counting up to Christmas on the front of the envelopes. Then I wrote out the activity for that day and sealed the envelopes. Each day in December we will open the bucket and pull out the envelope for that day. The kids will open it and then sometime before that day is over we will do the activity. I think they are going to LOVE it. I am even excited about it.



Here are the activities I have planned. Some of these I copied from Lorie at This is my Story. Thanks for the inspiration Lorie.:)

Dec.1- Teach the true meaning of Christmas to the kids. Talk about Jesus,Mary, Joseph, 3 wise men,etc.
2-have a mug of hot chocolate with a peppermint stick
3-Learn a Christmas song
4-have milk and cookies before bed
5-Write a letter to Santa
6-turn off all the lights in the house except for the Christmas tree and sit and look at it while drinking eggnog
7-teach the boy to say "HO! HO! HO!"
8-make red and green rice krispies treats
9- make a strand of Christmas lights(paper craft)
10-gift wrapping night. Let the kids help me wrap gifts to our family and friends
11-make paper snowflakes
12-call family members and tell them what you love about Christmas
13-make green mint Christmas ice cream shakes
14-have a "snowball fight" using cotton balls
15-Donate money to a Salvation army bell ringer ( teach them about giving to others)
16-draw Christmas trees and presents on white paper
17-Christmas movie night!!
18-Go look at Christmas lights and stop at McDonald's for Happy Meals on the way
19-make fudge
20-under the tree there is a present marked Dec. 20. Open it. ( something small will be in it. A new movie or maybe new bubble bath)
21- draw a picture for Santa's elves
22-make truffles
23- bake Christmas cookies for Santa
24-set out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer
25-Bake a birthday cake in honor of Jesus' birthday!